Tidjane Thiam re-elected as PDCI leader amid election controversy
Former banker Tidjane Thiam was overwhelmingly re-elected as head of Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party (PDCI), with 99.8% of the vote at a special congress. Just two days after resigning, his return follows a court ruling that barred him from October’s presidential election over dual nationality issues.,
Thiam, who renounced his French citizenship in March, was disqualified after a court claimed he lost his Ivorian nationality in 1987.
The PDCI has denounced the decision as “judicial harassment”, while supporters remain defiant. “He will be our candidate—there is no Plan B,” said party official Elisabeth Golli.
However, Thiam’s eligibility remains uncertain. A separate legal challenge against his 2023 PDCI leadership election is set for hearing Thursday, further complicating his political future.
The exclusion of Thiam is part of a broader trend, with three other opposition figures, including ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, also barred from the race.
Meanwhile, incumbent Alassane Ouattara, 83, has hinted at seeking another term despite his decade-long rule.
Analysts see Thiam’s re-election as a show of defiance, but his path to the presidency remains legally fraught.
With the courts holding firm on the electoral list, the PDCI faces an uphill battle to challenge Ouattara’s dominance.
